Still Another Blade Evaluation

[Cheezeweggie]

I just tried all of the blade brands from the West Coast economy sample pack. If anyone is interested, here are the results:

Dorco - The least sharp of the group. Forgiving, but required an extra pass. Same as the K-mart blades I've bee using for months. A major improvement over American Personnas.

Red Pack Personna - If only American Personnas were this good. Sharpest in the group and very smooth. No nicks or weepers. Excellent blades.

Derby Extra - These are the reason I tried the sample pack. The first blade was a bad experience. It dragged across my face and tore me up. The second blade worked out much better, but still not any better than the Red pack or the Crystals. I am very disappointed, but every face is different...

Crystal - Almost identical to the Red Pack Personna. As sharp and perhaps a bit more aggressive. Some weepers, but a great blade.

Thanks to West Coast Shaving for the great and dirt-cheap sample pack. "Equipment" used - '59 Fatboy & KMF Mint cream.

[jss]

Thanks for posting your experience....

[lab1dobie]

Thanks for the review. I just ordered an extended sampler pack from West Coast and am looking forward to getting it in the next day or two. This was very helpful, especially for a newbie!

[Darjeeling Express]

Comments appreciated. I'm working through a little different sampler from west coast. I actually think the Dorco's are excellent blades.

[Bobtrumpet]

I just tried all of the blade brands from the West Coast economy sample pack. If anyone is interested, here are the results:

Thanks to West Coast Shaving for the great and dirt-cheap sample pack.

Gee, I could have written this review. I had the same experience with this sampler pack. I didn't purchase any of the others as I didn't want to find that I liked the Feathers or the Sweedish Gillettes because I didn't want to pay that much for blades. Actually I was willing to try them if I didn't like the others in the economy pack. Fortunately, I found that I like the red pack Personnas and the Crystals.

[jpkunst]

I didn't want to find that I liked the Feathers or the Sweedish Gillettes because I didn't want to pay that much for blades.

I know what you mean. I really wanted to like some cheap blade brand. But the Swedish Gillettes are too good to pass up.

I figure that it's still significantly cheaper than Mach III cartridges. And I also found that the Swedes last a lot longer for me than other blades.

Jan Pieter

[blades]

I know what you mean. I really wanted to like some cheap blade brand. But the Swedish Gillettes are too good to pass up.

I figure that it's still significantly cheaper than Mach III cartridges. And I also found that the Swedes last a lot longer for me than other blades.

Jan Pieter

Try the 7 O' Clock (Yellow/Amber packet) blades, sharper than the swedes and half the price, they are made by gillette in Russia, blade quality is good, packageing is average.

[OldSaw]

This is the kind of feedback that makes this place so great.

[jpkunst]

Try the 7 O' Clock (Yellow/Amber packet) blades, sharper than the swedes and half the price, they are made by gillette in Russia, blade quality is good, packageing is average.

Thanks for the tip. I actually have a 5-pack of those blades (Gillette 7 O'Clock SharpEdge) from a sampler package. I am currently at the stage where I am perfecting my technique so I don't want to experiment with different equipment for a while. But I'll keep these blades in mind and I will probably try them sometime in the future.

Jan Pieter

[blades]

I am currently at the stage where I am perfecting my technique so I don't want to experiment with different equipment for a while. Jan Pieter

Excellent idea to adhere to one make of blade whilst perfecting technique.

[Bobtrumpet]

Try the 7 O' Clock (Yellow/Amber packet) blades, sharper than the swedes and half the price, they are made by gillette in Russia, blade quality is good, packageing is average.

Does anyone know where to get the Yellow-pack Gillette 7 O'clocks (I'm in the US) besides Tryphon/Gio? Thanks in advance!

[htownmmm]

I am currently working on another blade expose'-this time on the swedes,reds,treet black,wilkie whites,and wilkie golds. It's good to see that others remark upon their blade experiences too.


marty

[jpkunst]

Does anyone know where to get the Yellow-pack Gillette 7 O'clocks (I'm in the US) besides Tryphon/Gio? Thanks in advance!

You can get them from a UK site (one that may not be mentioned by name on this board, I'm sure you can figure it out, otherwise PM me). I don't know about any US sources.

Jan Pieter

[blades]

You can get them from a UK site (one that may not be mentioned by name on this board, I'm sure you can figure it out, otherwise PM me). I don't know about any US sources.

Jan Pieter

do not pm that site, the mods take exception to it, rather private mail.

but being based in europe I can say that I have had exceptional service from him/that site.

[iamdarkangel2005]

Great information:

I had previously had experience with 3 out of 4. I haven't tried the Crystal Blades, but from what I heard they are great too.

If I was to label them in order of excellence it will be the following:

PERSONNA
CRYSTAL
DORCO
DERBY

Here are my two cents! :)

Dark

[wksimple]

My limited experience (6 weeks with a DE) is similar. I started with Dorco blades for 3 weeks. At first they didn't give me what I would call a very close shave. They were comfortable enough, just not sharp...so I thought. As my technique improved so did the quality of shaves with Dorcos. I now actualy like them a lot.

Then I tried Derbys for a week. Very disappointing. They seem to lose their edge quicker than Dorcos and left my face and neck irritated. More drag than cut.

I am now using the red-pack Personnas. These are great! Sharp, smooth, no irritation, cuts, or nicks. I'll finish the 5-pack and then try the Crystals.

As I get better at shaving, I am curious to try the Dorcos again to see how they are. They just 'might' be my go-to blade. YMMV.